H.C.R. No. 16 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Each year, the date of July 18 is recognized as Nelson Mandela International Day; in 2013, that date will also mark Mr. Mandela's 95th birthday, making this a fitting occasion to celebrate the life and legacy of a courageous and inspirational figure who is revered around the world; and WHEREAS, Born into the Tembu tribe in the Transkei region of South Africa in 1918, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela earned a degree from University College of Fort Hare and studied law at the University of Witwatersrand; and WHEREAS, In 1944, Mr. Mandela joined the African National Congress, and he soon became actively engaged in resistance against the racist apartheid policies of South Africa's ruling National Party; as part of that effort, he helped launch the "Defiance" campaign of civil disobedience in 1952; the government responded by trying him for treason in the late 1950s, though he was ultimately acquitted of that charge; and WHEREAS, After the Sharpeville Massacre of 69 anti-apartheid protestors in 1960, the ANC was banned, and Mr. Mandela began advocating for armed resistance to the government; arrested in 1962, he was sentenced to five years of hard labor, and in a separate trial that began the following year, he was sentenced to life in prison; and WHEREAS, From 1964 to 1982, Mr. Mandela was jailed in a small cell on Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town, and he was later incarcerated at two prisons on the mainland; during his 25 years as a prisoner, he endured harsh conditions while steadfastly refusing to compromise his belief in justice and equal rights for all South Africans; his valiant stand helped strengthen opposition to apartheid, both within South Africa and around the world; and WHEREAS, The anti-apartheid movement achieved one of its greatest victories in 1990 when Mr. Mandela was released from prison, and he soon became a key figure in the negotiations to dismantle the country's unjust system of government; he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, and the following year he was elected as South Africa's president in the nation's first multiracial election; and WHEREAS, In 2009, the General Assembly of the United Nations voted unanimously to commemorate his birthday each year as Nelson Mandela International Day, an observance that emphasizes the ability of individuals to effect positive change in their communities; and WHEREAS, Over the course of his life, Nelson Mandela has followed a difficult and often lonely path in the pursuit of justice; starting as an idealistic student determined to make his country a better place, he went on to become a resolute and determined prisoner of conscience and, finally, an admired international figure who symbolizes the victory of freedom over oppression; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas, 2nd Called Session, hereby designate July 18, 2013, as Nelson Mandela International Day in Texas. Giddings Turner of Harris Giddings Turner of Harris Giddings Turner of Harris Craddick Pitts Craddick Pitts Craddick Pitts Johnson Branch Johnson Branch Johnson Branch Huberty Kacal Huberty Kacal Huberty Kacal Kolkhorst Parker Kolkhorst Parker Kolkhorst Parker Stickland Stickland Stickland Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 16 was adopted by the House on July 15, 2013, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 16 was adopted by the Senate on July 17, 2013, by a viva-voce vote. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor Giddings Turner of Harris Craddick Pitts Johnson Branch Huberty Kacal Kolkhorst Parker Stickland Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas